– LAROSA VS MODAFFERI HEADS CHICAGO’S IRONHEART

by MMAWeekly.com Staff
On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Ironheart Crown will return to the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. The show is the oldest mixed martial arts event in the city. As an affiliate promotion for the American Fight League, the upcoming show will be featuring some of the parent organization’s top contracted fighters.

Widely regarded as the number one female MMA fighter in the world, Tara LaRosa will face Roxanne Modafferi. In 2007, Modafferi was victorious in Japan’s K-GRACE women’s open weight tournament.

In the men’s division, MMAWeekly.com’s No. 8 ranked featherweight in the world, Raphael Assuncao, will face Joe Pearson, who has won all of his victories by either knockout or submission.

Heading up the local talent, Chicago’s own Gideon Ray will face Juan Magana of Hammond, Ind. Ray gained fame as a participant in “The Ultimate Fighter” reality TV show, earning him several subsequent bouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the International Fight League. Despite several recent losses, he retains his reputation as one of Chicago’s most dynamic fighters.

Though much less experienced, his opponent, Juan Magana, remains undefeated with all but one of his victories by knockout or submission. Magana is young and seems to be following in the footsteps of his coach, WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres.